Thunderbolt 3 questions

[Muse]

I have a couple of laptops with a Thunderbolt 3 port. I just set up the 2nd (first has to be RMA'd, a Lenovo P1). The one I just set up is an LG Gram 15.6.

The charger that came with this LG lappy gets hell of hot, weighs 9oz. I have a neat little GAN charger called a SlimQ, that's 5oz, only gets a little warm, is 65watts and charges almost as fast, so I figure to use it. However, I evidently need to use the Thunderbolt 3 port with it.

Now, I heard you can do multiple things (at the same time???) with a Thunderbolt 3 port, or am I mistaken there? I'd like to explore using ethernet with this lappy instead of the wifi. Can I do that at the same time as charging with my SlimQ charger (that uses the Thunderbolt 3 port)?

 

[Muadib]

Yes, you can both charge and use Ethernet with a Thunderbolt 3 port if you want. You just need a dongle.

 

[Muse]

Yes, you can both charge and use Ethernet with a Thunderbolt 3 port if you want. You just need a dongle.

Right, I was looking at those. $25 and up. Somewhat wonky on a laptop unless it's sitting on a table is my thinking. My Lenovo P1 laptop has 2 Thunderbolt 3 ports, so I wouldn't need a dongle for that.

 

[Muadib]

Right, I was looking at those. $25 and up. Somewhat wonky on a laptop unless it's sitting on a table is my thinking. My Lenovo P1 laptop has 2 Thunderbolt 3 ports, so I wouldn't need a dongle for that.

Amazon had a few cheaper ones, but good luck with whatever you choose.

 

[Muse]

Amazon had a few cheaper ones, but good luck with whatever you choose.

Actually, the LG Gram 15.6" I'm using has such good battery life I think I may just charge it when I'm not using it. The rest of the time I can use the Thunderbolt 3 port with ethernet if I go that route. May get a dongle eventually, will have to see. Just getting used to this. Still have at least 15 apps/utilities to install. But mostly I have it working for basic stuff.

 

[Muadib]

Actually, the LG Gram 15.6" I'm using has such good battery life I think I may just charge it when I'm not using it. The rest of the time I can use the Thunderbolt 3 port with ethernet if I go that route. May get a dongle eventually, will have to see. Just getting used to this. Still have at least 15 apps/utilities to install. But mostly I have it working for basic stuff.

You could also get a USB 3.0 to Ethernet adapter. They should be a bit cheaper.

 

[Muse]

You could also get a USB 3.0 to Ethernet adapter. They should be a bit cheaper.

Will that have as much speed as a USB-C to ethernet adapter, i.e. plugged into the Thunderbolt 3 port?

 

[Muadib]

Will that have as much speed as a USB-C to ethernet adapter, i.e. plugged into the Thunderbolt 3 port?

You need a gigabit speed adapter.

 

[Muse]

You need a gigabit speed adapter.

So, what you're saying is the "USB 3.0 to Ethernet adapter" needs to be gigabit for equivalent speeds?

 

[Muadib]

So, what you're saying is the "USB 3.0 to Ethernet adapter" needs to be gigabit for equivalent speeds?

I said that so you don’t buy the slower 100 mb adapter.

 

[VirtualLarry]

Get the USB 3.1 Type-A and Type-C (there's a captive adapter) 2.5GbE-T ethernet dongle from Pluggable on Amazon. $39.99. RealTek chipset, works in Windows 10, presumably Windows 7 if you load the drivers, and I think Linux too if you use a recent (5.4?) Kernel image.

Would this do what you want? It's a ThunderBolt 3 docking station, with USB-C PD charger, ethernet, HDMI output (4K!), and multiple USB3.0 ports.

https://www.amazon.com/enchufable-compatible-Thunderbolt-determinados-port%C3%A1tiles/dp/B078J7FSWM/ref=sr_1_29?crid=E5W01J1IUSHA&dchild=1&keywords=pluggable+usb+3.0+ethernet+adapter&qid=1588996791&sprefix=pluggable+%2Caps%2C170&sr=8-29

This is the 2.5GbE-T dongle I was originally thinking of, looks like the price went up to $55.

Amazon.com: Plugable 2.5G USB C and USB to Ethernet Adapter, 2-in-1 Adapter Compatible with USB C/Thunderbolt 3 or USB 3.0, USB-C to RJ45 2.5 Gigabit LAN Compatible with Mac and Windows: Computers & Accessories

Amazon.com: Plugable 2.5G USB C and USB to Ethernet Adapter, 2-in-1 Adapter Compatible with USB C/Thunderbolt 3 or USB 3.0, USB-C to RJ45 2.5 Gigabit LAN Compatible with Mac and Windows: Computers & Accessories

www.amazon.com